Farmers are waiting for the next report from USDA, which is
the WASDE report. Itís scheduled to be released on Thursday October 10. Despite
claims that key information from the Economic Research Service could face
significant delays, officials say WASDE will come out on time.

USDA also says all legally required reports from the ERS
will come out on time after the office is moved to Kansas City. An internal
memo suggests other reports are likely to be delayed or discontinued
altogether. Our Washington insiders say ERS is delaying the relocation of some
employees who elected to move and the removal of some who declined.

It is also hiring retired former workers to maintain
continuity of service. It's estimated more than half of employees chose to
leave the agency.

There are reports that the USDA will have to delay the
release of some reports because of the loss of staff from the relocation of
Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture (NIFA) to Kansas City.

The USDA previously set a deadline of September 30 for ERS
and NIFA employees to report to Kansas City.

Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow of
Michigan raised concern over the delays in reports and research grants after
the administration told Congress the relocation would not impact the work done
by the two agencies.

In a letter to Ag Secretary Perdue, Stabenow said the
relocation has left the agencies with little ability to do their work, with
more than 75 percent of employees opting not to relocate.

She says the staffing shortages are also negatively
impacting Farm Bill implementation...